Effects of agricultural land management changes on surface water quality: a review of meso-scale catchment research

Article

Melland, A. R., Fenton, O. and Jordan, P.. 2018. "Effects of agricultural land management changes on surface water quality: a review of meso-scale catchment research." Environmental Science and Policy. 84, pp. 19-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.02.011
Article Title

Effects of agricultural land management changes on surface water quality: a review of meso-scale catchment research

ERA Journal ID36370
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsMelland, A. R. (Author), Fenton, O. (Author) and Jordan, P. (Author)
Journal TitleEnvironmental Science and Policy
Journal Citation84, pp. 19-25
Number of Pages7
Year2018
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationOxford, United Kingdom
ISSN1462-9011
1873-6416
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.02.011
Abstract

Measuring the environmental impacts of agricultural practice is critical for policy formulation and review, including policies implemented to improve water quality. Here, studies that measured such impacts in surface waters of hydrologically diverse meso-scale catchments (1–100 km2) were reviewed. Positive water quality effects were measured in 17 out of 25 reviewed studies. Successful farm practices included improved landscape engineering, improved crop management and reductions in farming intensity. Positive effects occurred from 1 to 10 years after the measures were implemented, with the response time broadly increasing with catchment size. However, it took from 4 to 20 years to confidently detect the effects. Policy makers and scientists should account for these hydrological and biogeochemical time lags when setting policy and planning monitoring in meso-scale catchments. To successfully measure policy effects, rates of practice change should also be measured with targeted water quality parameters.

Keywordsmitigation; mMeasures; BMP; agriculture; management practice; water quality; catchment; nitrogen; phosphorus
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020300201. Agricultural hydrology
300202. Agricultural land management
410404. Environmental management
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Byline AffiliationsNational Centre for Engineering in Agriculture
Teagasc Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Ireland
University of Ulster, United Kingdom
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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